Holmes could never last with Steelers
http://www.torontosun.com/sports/football/2011/01/20/16970061.html
By MIKE ZEISBERGER, Toronto Sun

Last Updated: January 20, 2011 8:09pm

PITTSBURGH — In the highly respected world of the Rooney family, the glory of a magnificent stat sheet will never outweigh the humiliation of an embarrassing rap sheet.

Never.

Santonio Holmes should have known that.

Instead, he learned the hard way.

Just two years ago, Holmes turned in one of the most spectacular plays in Super Bowl history, heroically stretching on his tippy-toes to snatch a Ben Roethlisberger dart for the winning touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals to give the Pittsburgh Steelers their record sixth Lombardi Trophy.

None of that mattered last spring.

Not when the quarterback and receiver, part of one of the most memorable hookups the NFL had ever seen, had just dragged the good name of the Rooneys’ beloved Steelers through the slimy western Pennsylvania muck.

Roethlisberger’s legal issues for his alleged inappropriate actions involving a young lady in a Georgia college bar had the Steelers kicking tires on a possible trade.

This was a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback. No matter.

This is not Philadelphia, where a guy with a history of dog fighting like Michael Vick is provided a stage for a comeback.

You do not soil the rep of the Rooney Steelers. (or of Steeler Nation! - mesa)

Slapped with a four-game suspension from the league, Roethlisberger needed to change his entire way of life in order to remain a Steeler. And, even then, the organization considered giving him the boot.

Which, in the end, is what they eventually did to Holmes.

And with good reason.

How long did he think the Rooneys were going to put up with his act?

How long did he figure their patience would last after giving him second chance after second chance after second chance?

A highly regarded first- round pick out of Ohio State in 2006, Holmes was in trouble before he even strapped on the fabled black Steelers helmet for his first regular-season game.

Just a few months after the Steelers drafted him, Holmes was accused of disorderly conduct in Miami and domestic violence assault on the mother of his daughter in Columbus, Ohio. While charges in both cases were dropped, negative publicity continued to linger around Holmes like a bad stench.

There was the incident in 2008 when he was cited for marijuana possession, causing coach Mike Tomlin to suspend him for a game against the New York Giants.

There was his involvement in an alleged Orlando nightclub brouhaha in March 2010 when he was accused of chucking a drink at the 21-year-old woman.

There was the knowledge that commissioner Roger Goodell was going to suspend him for the first four games of the 2010 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The Steelers have never come out and said which of Holmes’ many indiscretions finally pushed them over the edge. We’re guessing it was a combination of them all.

Finally, in April, with Steelers management knowing Holmes would be a free agent at the end of the season, he was shipped to the New York Jets.

For a fifth-round pick, no less.

You get the impression a rusty blocking sled would have sufficed.

That’s how bad the Rooneys appeared to want Holmes out.

On Sunday, he and Big Ben, less than two years removed from smearing their fingers all over the Lombardi Trophy, will reconnect in the AFC championship game between the Steelers and Jets at Heinz Field.

Holmes says there will be nothing “personal” about this matchup. He said that business was taken care of when the Jets beat the Steelers 22-17 last month.

Should the Jets go on to win the championship, however, well, that’s a different story.

“If we win the Super Bowl, then everything is personal,” Holmes said. “That’s a slap right back in those guys’ face for trading me.”

Not quite, Santonio. Because, win or lose, you were always on your way out of town.

The Rooneys believe in stability, having employed just three coaches since 1970. And they believe in representing the Steelers logo with pride, not shame.:tt04::tt04::tt04:

An image that, in the end, Santonio Holmes could never fulfill.

austinfrench76

01-20-2011, 10:24 PM

I actually think this boiled down to choosing between a great, but troubled reciever and a Franchise QB. You tell me what's harder ot replace??! The Rooney's reputation was taking a hit and they had to sacrifice one and thank God they chose Holmes!

MasterOfPuppets

01-20-2011, 10:44 PM

it'll be interesting to see how the jets respond to his contract demands.